Questions to ask before requesting a roofing quote

Asking three roofers to quote for the same job and getting three very different answers is a common experience. Often that is not because anyone is being unfair. It is because each roofer has understood the job slightly differently, or has priced a different solution.

A little preparation on your side makes quotes far easier to compare. This guide covers the questions to answer for yourself before you get in touch, the questions to ask each roofer and what a clear written quote should include.

Questions to answer for yourself first

You do not need to know anything technical, but the clearer you are about what is going on, the more useful each visit will be.

What exactly have you noticed?

Write down the symptoms in plain words: a stain on the back bedroom ceiling, slates in the garden, a gutter overflowing at the front corner, a draught from the loft hatch. Note when it started and whether it changes with the weather. Photos taken from the ground and from inside the loft are very helpful to share.

Which part of the roof is involved?

Many houses have more than one roof. A terraced house might have a pitched slate main roof, a flat roof over the kitchen offshoot and a small lean-to over the back door. Be clear about which section you are worried about, and whether you want the rest looked at while the roofer is there.

Who is responsible for the roof?

This matters more than people expect. In a Tyneside flat, the roof and loft often belong to the upstairs flat under the lease. In a block of flats, a managing agent or freeholder may be responsible. If you are a tenant, the landlord normally arranges roof repairs. Check before you book anything so the right person is getting the quote.

What result do you want?

Do you want the leak stopped as simply as possible, or a longer-term fix because you plan to stay for many years? Are you preparing the house for sale or for new tenants? Telling a roofer your plans helps them suggest options that fit, rather than guessing.

Questions to ask each roofer

These questions help you understand what you are actually being offered and make it easier to compare like with like.

What do you think is causing the problem?

A good roofer should explain the cause in terms you can follow and, ideally, show you photos of what they found. If two roofers give completely different explanations, ask each of them why they have ruled out the other's view.

What exactly is included?

Ask for the scope of work in writing. For a repair, that might be the number of slates replaced, the length of lead flashing renewed or the area of flat roof stripped. For bigger jobs, ask about underlay, battens, insulation, ventilation, ridge and verge details, gutters and fascias.

How will you reach the roof?

Some repairs can be done safely from a ladder or roof ladder. Others need a tower or full scaffolding. Access is a major part of many roofing jobs, so ask whether it is included, who arranges it and whether any council permit is needed because it will stand on the pavement or road.

What happens if you find something unexpected?

Once slates are lifted or a flat roof is stripped, rotten timber or other hidden problems sometimes come to light. Ask how the roofer will deal with that. The best answer is that they will stop, show you the problem and agree any extra work with you before going ahead.

Who will actually do the work?

Ask whether the person quoting will be on site, and whether any part of the job will be passed to someone else. It is reasonable to want to know who is responsible for the work day to day.

Are you insured, and is the work guaranteed?

Ask what insurance the roofer carries and what guarantee they give on the work. Ask for the guarantee terms in writing, including what is covered and what is not, so you know where you stand later.

Will this need Building Regulations approval?

Small repairs normally do not, but re-roofing, replacing a flat roof and some changes to roof windows or structure often do. Ask who will handle it, whether through building control or a competent person scheme, and whether you will receive a completion certificate at the end.

How will you protect my property?

Ask about sheeting over open sections at the end of each day, covering the loft, protecting gardens and conservatories and clearing away waste. Also ask how they will deal with a sudden change in the weather partway through the job.

What a written quote should include

A verbal estimate on the doorstep is hard to rely on. A written quote should make it clear:

• Your address and which part of the roof the work covers.
• A description of the work and the materials, in enough detail to compare.
• Whether access equipment, waste removal and making good are included.
• Any items that are provisional or depend on what is found.
• Payment terms, including any deposit and when the balance is due.
• Whether VAT is included.
• Guarantee details and how long the quote remains valid.

If something you discussed is missing, ask for it to be added before you accept.

Comparing quotes fairly

Lay the quotes side by side and check that they cover the same work. One quote may include scaffolding and a new lead flashing while another assumes a ladder and a sealant repair. One may strip and renew a flat roof while another overlays it. Those are very different jobs, even if they are described as fixing the same leak.

Be cautious about any quote that seems very vague, any roofer who asks for full payment before starting or anyone pressing you to decide on the spot. A reputable roofer will give you time to think and answer follow-up questions.

Getting started

Newcastle Roofs provides free, no-obligation quotes across Newcastle and the surrounding area, with no call-out charge. Have your photos and notes ready, tell us which part of the roof you are concerned about and what you would like to achieve, and we will explain what we find and what we would recommend.